Filling valve

Abstract

A multi-purpose automatic filing basin is provided for containing a selected amount of water which is used for various purposes. The water may be transferred from the basin by wicks or by a pump to water using devices such as plant pots or toys or may be provided for direct use from the basin for devices such as animal feeders and habitats. The basis is kept supplied with water from a pressurized source by a specialized valve which opens in response to a drop in water level below a first selected level and closes in response to the water level reaching as second selected level.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an adjustable diaphragm fill valve adapted for use in an automatic filling and liquid level regulating device which comprises a basin having a liquid inlet port in the bottom thereof for receiving a liquid under pressure from a source thereof, for holding a volume of the liquid therein and for dispensing the liquid therefrom at ambient pressure, which device also has means for mounting the valve on the basin and sealing means for providing a liquid and gas tight seal between the valve and the basin, which valve comprises water level adjustment means in mechanical connection with means positioned in the upper portion of the interior cavity of the valve which reciprocally urges the valve into its closed position, in response to the weight of liquid in the basin above the diaphragm when the valve is mounted therein and the liquid in the basin is at a preselected liquid level, and into its open position, in response to a drop in the level of the liquid in the basin below the selected liquid level; a liquid inlet port in liquid communication with the inlet port of the basin; a liquid out port providing liquid communication between the lower portion of the valve cavity and the interior of the basin for dispensing liquid from the fill valve into the basin when the valve is in its open position; and a gas inlet port in gas communication with ambient air for maintaining the diaphragm of the fill valve at ambient air pressure, the improvement wherein: (a) the valve is adapted to fit completely within the interior of a basin having, as the means for mounting thereon, a valve mounting seat positioned on the interior surface of the bottom of the basin;   (b) the liquid and gas inlet ports of the valve are both positioned above the seal formed between the valve and the basin when the former is mounted on the latter;   (c) the bottom of the valve comprises a flat surfaced mounting means for interiorly mounting the valve onto the mounting seat of the basin and, cooperatively, with the valve seating means of the basin, forming a liquid-tight and gas-tight seal between the valve and the basin when the former is mounted on the latter;   (d) the liquid inlet port in positioned in the center of the bottom of the valve and is adapted to provide liquid communication to the valve with the liquid under pressure after it has passed through the inlet port of the basin and the basin is connected to the source thereof;   (e) the gas inlet port of the valve is positioned in the bottom of the valve, axially ofset between the hole in the center of the bottom of the valve and the circumference thereof.   
     
     
       2. The valve of claim 1, adapted to be mountable onto the basin and friction sealed thereto digitally. 
     
     
       3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises protuberances adapted to lock the valve onto the basin. 
     
     
       4. The valve of claim 3, wherein the protuberances are annular retention tabs which are adapted to provide cam action compression within the means for mounting the valve on the mounting seat of the basin when the valve is mounted on the basin. 
     
     
       5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the forward, relative to the mounting direction, end of the retention tabs is thinner and the rearward end thereof is thicker and the retention tabs, in cooperation with the valve mounting seat positioned on the interior surface of the bottom of the basin, produce a compressing cam action which seals the valve to the valve mounting seat when the valve is mounted thereon. 
     
     
       6. The valve of claim 5, wherein the flat surfaced mounting means of the valve is circular and he valve is adapted for mounting and dismounting on the basin digitally in a single rotary motion. 
     
     
       7. The valve of claim 6, wherein the retention tabs are elongaged circumferentially wider portions of the circular valve mounting means. 
     
     
       8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve has a low vertical profile so that the upper surface thereof is positioned below the preselected water level of the basin in which it is mounted and thus leave most of interior of the basin vertically unobstructed and therefore free to mount a water using attachment deeply into the interior thereof. 
     
     
       9. The valve of claim 1, adapted to be mountable onto the basin and friction sealed thereto digitally and wherein the mounting means comprises protuberances adapted to lock the valve onto the basin; wherein the protuberances are annular retention tabs which are adapted to provide cam action compression within the means for mounting the valve on the mounting seat of the basin when the valve is mounted on the basin; wherein the forward, relative to the mounting direction, end of the retention tabs is thinner and the rearward end thereof is thicker and the retention tabs, in cooperation with the valve mounting seat positioned on the interior surface of the bottom of the basin, produce a compressing cam action which seals the valve to the valve mounting seat when the valve is mounted thereon; wherein the flat surfaced mounting means of the valve is circular and is adapted for mounting and dismounting on the basin digitally in a single rotary motion; wherein the retention tabs are elongaged circumferentially wider portions of the circular valve mounting means; and wherein the valve has a low vertical profile so that the upper surface thereof is positioned below the preselected water level of the basin in which it is mounted and thus leave most of interior of the basin vertically unobstructed by the valve and therefore free to mount a water using attachment deeply into the interior thereof.